Unique Dragonfly Hunting Strategies and Exceptionally High Eicosapentaenoic Acid Levels in Brain Lipids: Is There a Link?

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6ω3) and, to a much lesser extent, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5ω3) are the main long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in mammalian brain phospholipids. A huge number of studies conducted in recent years indicate the important role of omega-3 PUFAs in the regulation of behavior, memory, mental and cognitive development in humans and animals. DHA and EPA are essential for neuro- and synaptogenesis, neural network formation, stimulation of neurotrophic factor production, neuronal and synaptic plasticity. Omega-3 PUFA deficiency leads to a decrease in spatial memory, cognitive development, learning ability, visual impairment, and psychomotor functions. In the context of modern concepts on the role of omega-3 PUFAs in cognitive processes, the author discusses her previously published data on a sharp increase in brain phospholipid EPA levels in the adult dragonfly Aeschna grandis L. compared to its larvae in an attempt to link this phenomenon to a significant complication of behavior in adult dragonflies and the development of their highly effective pursuit and visual processing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]